Tapas is well established as one of the mainstays of Spanish cuisine. The small servings mean that not only can you try a good selection of dishes but each dish is usually only a few euros, making it an economical way of eating. There are loads of restaurants in Lanzarote where visitors can sample some great tapas dishes – and here we take at look at some of the best and most atmospheric spots around the island.
La Bodega – Puerto del Carmen
This bustling restaurant in Puerto del Carmen is a hot favourite with locals and is often very busy, so it is best to book a table.
The restaurant has an excellent range of tapas to choose from as well as a full menu of main courses, with many of the meat dishes prepared in the restaurant’s own butcher’s department. Deep fried camembert served with a fruit conserve is a popular choice, as are the gambas al ajillo (prawns cooked in garlic oil) and jamon iberico (the very best ham you can get).
The restaurant is located in an old converted Canarian house, which gives it an authentic Bodega feel, with casks and barrels used for decorative effect and hams hanging above the bar. It covers a large amount of floor space, but the dining areas are divided into separate zones, allowing for a more intimate atmosphere. A very good wine list is also available.
Contact Details
Telephone: (0034) 928 512 953
C/Roque Nublo 5 (the street that leads down to the old harbour), Puerto del Carmen.
Casa Luis – Costa Teguise
Casa Luis is a typical tapas bar, much frequented by locals on their way to and from work as well as tourists enjoying a holiday in Costa Teguise. The dishes are freshly prepared each day and include items such as Estofado (homemade beef stew), Albondigas (Spanish meatballs) cooked in a rich tomato sauce and Puntillas – fried baby Saharan squid, which are a speciality of Lanzarote.
More traditional dishes such as papas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes), served with coriander and paprika sauces and goat’s cheese from the island are also available. Casa Luis is open from early in the morning until 22.00 at night, which makes it an ideal venue for anyone feeling peckish, as the dishes are served throughout the day.
Contact Details
Telephone: (0034) 928 592 165
CC Santa Rosa (opposite the Las Coronas Apartments), Costa Teguise
El Chupadero – La Geria
The restored bodega at El Chupadero is a lovely spot to stop for tapas, as the views across to the Timanfaya National Park are particularly good from the terrace.
Dishes include smoked salmon and Serrano ham, dates wrapped in bacon and anchovies in a vinaigrette. The premises have been beautifully restored, with thick whitewashed walls and an internal courtyard, whilst there is often a good selection of music playing, with monthly DJ sessions usually arranged for Saturday night.
Contact Details
Telephone: (00 34) 928 173 115
La Geria 3, (close to the bodega of La Geria)
Museo del Campesino – Mozaga
The farming museum at the Monumento al Campesino is also the site of a very good tapas restaurant. Serving traditional Canarian tapas, you will find Lanzarote goat cheese, anchovies, fish stew and octopus are on the menu.
The restaurant is divided into two parts, with the tapas bar in the upper section, whilst underground is a huge and spectacular dining area for more formal meals, with a range of Canarian specialities on the menu. The restaurant is open from 13.00 to 16.00.
Contact Details
Telephone: (00 34) 928 520 136
El Chiringuito – Arrieta
This tapas bar is right next to the beach at Playa La Garita in Arrieta. The tiny shack is capable of cooking up some fantastic dishes, including churros de pescado (fresh fish fried in batter) and on Sunday a huge paella, which is offered as both a tapa and a ración (larger portion). This is a particularly atmospheric spot to enjoy eating outdoors.
LagOmar – Oasis de Nazaret
Until very recently the restaurant at LagOmar had a fixed menu of starters and main courses but the restaurant has just changed hands. And is now under the auspices of Kerman, the tapas chef who has enjoyed enormous popularity with Cocina Kerman in Costa Teguise.
The emphasis on day time dining has therefore shifted to providing more tapas and pintxos (an alternative Basque name for these dishes) at the stylish restaurant. Pintxos tend to be tapa served on slices of bread, a regional variation that you will occasionally find on Lanzarote.
Contact Details
Telephone: (0034) 928 845 665
C/Los Loros 2, Oasis de Nazaret
